Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I'm beyond excited for Quilt Market this weekend. Literally bouncing from foot to foot! Modern Whimsy is going to be officially launching and I am ridiculously spazzy. And the fabulous team at Robert Kaufman has so kindly asked me to visit their booth for a meet and greet. (bounce, bounce, blush, blush...)

So if you're in Houston this weekend, please swing by and say hellooooo!!! :) Would love to get to meet you!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

A few months ago I got an email that absolutely just tickled me. I heard from Michelle, who was making her very first quilt. And the quilt was to be for her nephew, Max, who can be frequently be found cruising about wearing his wellies. Turns out they are pretty much the only shoes he'll wear. :)

So of course, my Donkeys and Wellies fabric and Kate Conklin's Wonky Donkey pattern fit the bill for Michelle and Max's quilt. I was touched when Michelle sent me a picture of Max's finished quilt. Isn't it darling!? Just perfect for a wellie-lovin' little boy! Have fun with your new quilt Max!

Also, a quick reminder that I will be retiring my Donkeys in Wellies and the Polar Bears fabric at the end of the month. They're 15% off through the 31st of October, so this is a great time to stock up on these colors before they're gone . (Here are more details on when Robert Kaufman will have the new colors/designs available...) If you need more yardage than what's listed in the store, just let me know and I can set up a custom listing for you. :)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

How excited am I to get to share the news that one of the editions of my first book, Designing and Printing Fabric has started shipping!! YEA!!!

The UK edition (soft cover), published by A&C Black is available.I've been watching Amazon UK like a hawk and late last week learned that it started shipping last week. So unbelievably excited!! You can find it here.

The US version, published by Chronicle Books, will be a hard cover edition and has a slightly different title (Mastering the Art of Fabric Printing and Design). I've learned that the US edition won't be available until sometime this spring. The mysteries of book publishing, right? :) I'll keep you posted on the US edition and share any news I receive.

The first 2 chapters are filled with information on the basics of pattern design, defining your color palette and inspiration for your designs. The 3rd chapter is filled with tutorials for creating digital pattern repeats.

Chapters 4 and 5 include guidance on a variety of methods for dyeing, stamping and screen printing fabrics. I was fortunate enough to get to collaborate with some immensely talented women who are experts on those topics, so you'll find tutorials and information from Malka Dubrawsky (Stitch in Dye), Jesse Braytenbach (Jezze Prints) and Lara Cameron and Tegan Rose (Ink and Spindle).

Chapter 6 covers digital printing in depth and walks you through the process of understanding how to set up your files and manage your colors.

The final chapter includes advice for going pro and features interviews with some truly amazing and talented leaders in fabric design. I was so humbled to be able to interview so many people who's designs are included in my own fabric stash and their fabric is a part of so many quilts and goodies I've sewn over the years.

I can't express how thankful I am to have been able to write this book and for all the help and support I received along the way. It's been a tremendous journey from sitting down to starting to write the book during the summer of 2010 and seeing an actual copy of the printed book this fall. Thank you all for your never ending encouragement and support!! It's meant the world to me. I can still hardly believe that I actually have an ISBN number that's recorded in the Library of Congress.

Monday, October 10, 2011

I have literally had dreams about owning a hand tufted wool rug by Angela Adams. Her eye for pattern is just simply gorgeous and I've coveted her designs from afar for the longest time. (To say that I have a design crush on her would be a dramatic understatement...) But I haven't ever had a space that would do her rugs justice (nor have they been in my budget to date...)

So when I found out that she has a new line of candles available through Crash Candles, I was all a twitter and I just have to share my little treasure with you. I snapped up this little lovely (called Forrest) and it's happily living in my bedroom. It's soy, smells amazing and I finally have a tiny little Angela Adams design in my house!! To see more of Angela's candles for Crash, click here. And while you're there, make sure you check out the Lotta Jansdotter candles as well. I wouldn't be at all surprised if I asked Santa for a little box of Crash candles this year. :)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

And by now, you know what a Final Sale means!! Robert Kaufman has picked up 2 more of my collections. Super duper mega excited!!

The Donkeys in Wellies and the Polar Bears will be released by RK in January 2012 and shipping sometime this coming Spring. The new color stories are really different from what I've had in the store and can't wait for you to see them once they start hitting the streets next year.

So if you need any of the Donkeys or Bears or want to stash away some of these color stories or have a project underway that needs donkeys or bears, stock up now... I'll have them available through the end of October ONLY and they're 15% off in celebration of this Final Sale. If you need more yardage than what's listed in the store (or if the listings expire when I'm not looking), just lemme know and I can set up a custom listing for you. I'll be printing as needed to fill orders for the rest of the month. :)